After holding second place in 2024, Cape Town has successfully won World's Best City by Time Out, for 2025. This climb to first place comes as no surprise, as the city continues to punch above its weight and outshine other major metros in South Africa, as well as cities further afield. Cape Town really has a lot going for it, and I'm proud to write about why I believe this was a very well-deserved win.
Cape Town at The Top
Cape Town, South Africa, has been named World'S Best City by Time Out, for 2025.
The global Time Out survey’s questions covered everything from food, nightlife and culture, to affordability, happiness and overall city vibe, with tens of thousands of participants.
Well-known as a tourist hub (for local and foreign holiday-goers), it's no surprise that the coastal city of 5 million has made its mark on this, and many other lists, over the years.
Cape Town offers something for everyone, with a plethora of gorgeous Blue Flag-quality beaches, scenic hiking trails, wine farms, craft and food markets, museums, penguins at Boulders Beach, naval atmosphere in Simon's Town, walks at Cape Point, and truly phenomenal flora at the immaculate Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
Whether you want to indulge in its rich history and diversity, savor its blend of local cuisines, experience its megadiverse nature, or be welcomed by its friendly locals, South Africa's legislative capital is the place to be!
A City of Diversity
Cape Town is South Africa's oldest city, founded in the 1700s, and is home to an extremely diverse mix of locals (as well as foreigners who choose to move here). The city has numerous cultures intertwining, and living happily alongside one another. Each brings with it its own traditions, languages, histories, and stories. And together, these cultures make Cape Town the special place it is today.
Not only that, but the city is home to the Cape Floristic Region, the world's most diverse area for flora. The Table Mountain National Park is home to some truly spectacular fynbos plants, and Kirstenbosch Gardens, set against the mountains, is home to 5 out of the world's 6 biomes!
Lots to Offer
Cape Town is home to many facilities and attractions, including:
- The Cape Town International Convention Center, which hosts everything from Decorex to Comic Con
- The Two Oceans Aquarium
- World of Birds
- The V&A Waterfront
- Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, which is home to numerous gorgeous walking paths, picnic areas, and loads of plants and flowers for you to enjoy
- Boulders Beach, home to a cute local jackass penguin colony
- Hout Bay Harbor, with its many restaurants
- Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia, Buitenverwagting, and Beau Constantia wine farms
- The Iziko South Africa Museum
- The Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum
- The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
- The Planetarium
- The Company's Garden, which sits behind the National Parliament buildings
- Camp's Bay, Clifton, and Blouberg beaches, offering exquisite views of both the city skyline, mountain ranges, and the ocean
- Theaters, including the Artscape and the Baxter, which regularly show world-class productions
- The DHL Stadium
- Lion's Head and Signal Hill hikes, providing panoramic views of the City Bowl and surrounds
- The Old Biscuit Mill
- GrandWest entertainment center
- Cape Point Nature Reserve
- Nature trails all over the city
- Craft and food markets throughout the city
These are just some of the things locals can enjoy (often for free), around their home city.
If you're lucky enough to be one of those locals, be sure to get yourself a My Green Card from one of SANPARKS' many outlets, as it'll get you 12 entries into various attractions for a fraction of the multi-ticket price you would've otherwise paid.
Also, be sure to travel just a little bit outside Cape Town to visit Alpaca Loom farm, Spice Route, Paarl, the Franschhoek wine valley, and Root44 Market.
If you're visiting, you can get a CityPass, which will give you access to over 80 attractions.
Managed Right
Cape Town is well known across the country for being the best-managed metro. The City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality takes fantastic care of the city's land and infrastructure, and by extension, its people.
Services are reliable, the City is responsive, public-private-partnerships for security are aplenty, beaches and CBD streets are kept clean, the City has diversified itself away from the national power grid, has implemented sustainable water infrastructure, and has improved its port operations.
Further, the City has worked to provide affordable housing for its residents, has recently approved the expansion of its existing airport and the building of a brand new one, and has revitalized its train and bus rapid transit systems. The City has granted many permits for new businesses to build their offices and expand their operations here, attracting talent and new residents from all over. This, in turn, creates jobs and brings in additional revenue for the city to continue to improve. Finally, the City continues to look after its many parks, creating beautiful spaces for residents to enjoy.
As a related side note, Cape Town recently matched Johannesburg in terms of gross economic output, despite having 3 million fewer residents. It goes to show what looking after your city can do. And, it would come as no surprise to me if we significantly economically overtook all other major metros in the years to come.
Cape Town really is a model for other South African (and Afrian) cities to use when they're planning their own expansions.The many success stories here can inform other aspirational cities when they lay out plans to improve, for the sake of their own residents. As for Cape Town, it seems the city is continuing onwards and upwards. It's no wonder we continue to win awards.
Further Reading about Cape Town
To learn more about them, visit these pages:
It truly is an incredible achievement to win Best City in the World, but we deserve it. And, I'm very proud to live here!
If you're planning a visit to Cape Town, I hope you enjoy exploring around this wonderful city! There's so much to do, and a little something for everyone. We're sure to welcome you!
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Informational sources for this article: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 25; 26.
Image sources for this article: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10. (Note: either some or all images have been converted to formats other than their originals, as well as resized, to better suit the article).
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